Toby Alderweireld labelled as a ‘second or third option’ in summer transfer window

Tottenham Hotspur may be looking to invest this transfer window, if reports are to be believed, but they will also want to hang onto their star performers (Sun).

Toby Alderweireld has been one of Spurs’ best defenders almost since the day they signed him from Atletico Madrid, but could his Tottenham career be over?

Tottenham decided to extend the Belgian’s contract by an extra year in early 2019, but this activated a clause that could see him leave North London for just £25m this summer (Guardian).

With Alderweireld’s reputation, you would expect clubs to be queuing around the block for his signature, but one journalist believes this is not the case.

Kristof Terreur claims that the rise of Matthijs De Ligt will see Alderweireld drop down to clubs’ second or third choice this window.

He believes that people will only move for Toby after De Ligt makes a move away from Ajax.

He said on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast (quoted by Daily Star): “At the moment I say no [he won’t be a Spurs player next season], but I have the impression he’s nowhere like the first choice on the list of clubs.

“It will depend on De Ligt, I think, who’s everywhere the first choice of every club. Everybody wants to sign Matthijs De Ligt.

“Once he’s signed somewhere, other teams will have Toby as their second or third option. They might trigger his release clause.

“It’s an easy deal to do, but he’s 30 years old. He’s at a good club, they’re gonna see if somebody goes for him.

“He’s in a top-six club in England, where are you gonna go if the top clubs in other leagues don’t go for you? What are you then doing? Are you waiting one more season to go on a free? Maybe.

“But at the moment, it’s a complicated one.”

Spurs Web Opinion:

This will suit Spurs just fine. While other clubs fight over De Ligt, Tottenham can concentrate on either getting Alderweireld to commit to the final year of his contract, or another extension. I would much rather have Toby for another year or two before replacing him then. Tottenham won’t find anybody better, and certainly not for £25m.

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